Apparatus for protecting banks and the like



1. W. CLARKSON AND C. A. DIMLER.

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BANKS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION F lLED MAR. 23, 1921.

1,419,491, Patented June 1-922,

4 SHEETS- T 1.

J. W. CLARKSON AND C. A. DIMLER.

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BANKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1921 1 ,41 9 ,4:9 1 Patented June 13, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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'J. .CLARKSON AND C. A. DIMLER.

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BANKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 23 I921.

Patented June 13, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

J. W. CLARKSON AND C. A. DIIVILER.

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BANKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23 192].

1 ,4 1 9,4971 Patented J 11116 13, 1922.

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

-ments in Apparatus for Protectin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. GLARKSON AND CHRISTOPHER A. DIMLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF GOLUMBIAv APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BANKS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1922 Application filed March 23, 1921. Serial Il'o. 454,894.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES W. CLARK- SON and CHRISTOPHER A. DTMLnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain-new and useful Improve- Banks and the like, of which the following is a v specification.

This invention relates to new and novel means especially designed to be installed in banks, loan and trust companies, post offices, and other places handlinglarge cash receipts, as a' protection for the employees thereof against robberies or hold-ups.

The prime objectof our invention is to provide novel, simple, economical, durable and efficient means wherein an agent will be suddenly discharged into the face of a bandit or robber to render him unconscious orblind', and simultaneously there will be operated a shield to protect an employee from a flying bullet or bullets which may be fired by said bandit or robber.

This invention provides an apparatus wherein neceptacles containing an agent, preferably in powdered form, such as Gay- 'enne pepper, are suitably arranged at convenient points at the various windows of a bank or similar institution, each of said, repeptacles being provided with a blower, so that if persons should attempt to rob or hold up any one or moreof the employees at the various windows, the contents of any one or a series of the receptacles may be blown therefrom and directed into the robhers faces to render them helpless or blind, a protecting shield in front of the employee being simultaneously operated.

drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that slight changes in the precise form,

vantages of the invention.

.In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it will be seen that:

Figure 1 is an elevationshowing a portionof a bank fixture equipped with the apparatus embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken through the receptacle and a portion of the bank fixture showing the means for discharging the powdered material within said receptacle.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the receptacle and "easing therefor, showing the casing partly broken.

away.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the receptacle removed from its casing with the funnel portion broken away.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation showing a portion of the protecting shield in an elevated position with its operating chains secured thereto and the bank fixture and a portion of said shield broken away.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the dotted lines 6-6,- Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation takenon the plane of the dotted lines 7-7, Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the lower portion of the bank fixture and protecting shield showing the treadle operating means secured thereto with the upper portion of said shield and the fixture broken away. I

Figure 9 is a transverse section'through the lower portion of the fixture showing the treadle means for releasing'the protecting shield, and

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the protecting shield in its released position.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 4

In the embodiment of our invention as illustrated, and. which shows a preferred construction, the numeral 1 indicates the fixture of a bank or the like, which fixture includes a plurality of receptacles 2, adapted to contain a powdered material, such as Cayenne pepper, one of which being suitab y mounted at the most desirable point within said fixture at each side of a window or other opening formed therethroughi. each receptacle being provided with a front plate 8 provided with a series of staggered openings a so that the powder contained within the receptacle may be discharged through the various openings and into the face of the would-be robbers.

Each receptacle 2 is supported within the fixture 1, by a casing 5 fixedly secured to the fixture said casing being provided with a plurality of bearing members 6 adapted to support an upper shaft 7 and a lower shaft 8, said upper shaft 7 passing centrally through the receptacle with its outer end mounted in the bearing 8 formed on the inner face of the front plate 3,-the latter being secured to the front end portion of the receptacle, which is passed through an opening formed in the casing and seated within an opening formed through the front of the fixture. Fixedly mounted on each upper shaft 7 is a rotatable fan or blower 9 which when caused to revolve, by the means hereinafter described, is adapted to operate a slidable valve 10 normally closing the inlet formed between the funnel 11 and the outer casing of the receptacle thereby forcibly and rapidly discharging the powder within the receptacle and simultaneously admitting additional powder within the receptacle to be discharged. I

Fixedly secured to the inner end portion of the shaft 7 is a small gearfwheel 12 adapted to engage and mesh with a large gear wheel 13 fixedly mounted on the lower shaft 8, and rigidly secured to the shaft 8. intermediate its ends is a sprocket wheel 14; which engages with a sprocket chain 15, said chain engaging with another idler sprocket wheel 16 carried by a shaft mounted on the casing 5 and adapted to convey the said chain out of the path of the recepta'cle.

It will be perceived that one end of each of the sprocket chains 15 is secured to the upper end of a hardened steel plate 17 adapted to entirely close the opening or window formed through the fixture when it reaches its elevated position, thereby creating a protective shield for the employee bchind the window or opening. while the other end of each of the chains 15 is securedto a heavy weight 18.

Secured at the bottom portion and within the inner side'of the fixture 1, extending any suitable distance within the apartment, is a-movable or rocking treadle bar or rod 19 fixedly secured to one end 'of a plurality of connecting links 20, the latter being rigidly secured to a stationary rod 21 extending lengthwise through the fixture. and connected to the treadle bar or rod 19, at the central portion of each window or opening,

' edge of the is one end of a link 22, the other end being connected to a latch 23 adapted, to engage with a keeper 24c centrally and fixedly secured to the lower end of the steel shield plate 17, and adapted to hold said plate normally in its lowermost position with its lower end resting on the angle bars fixedly secured to the fixture. T he latch 23 is pivotally secured at its lower end to the ixture at 26, while its upper end overlaps the keeper carried the lower end of the plate 17. and secured intermediate the ends of said latch is a coiled spring 27, the other end of said spring being fixedly secured to the fixture at 28. y

it will be seen that one end of each chain being secured to the upper end of the shield plate and passing upward through the heading 29 of the fixture and over the sprocketpulley 30 supported upon the upper face of said heading, thence downward through the heading into engagement with the idler sprocket wheel 16 and the sprocket wheel 14, with its other end secured to a heavy weight 18. said weights being considerably in excess of the weight of the protecting shield plate 17. that when a robber ap proaches the window and demands that the employee throw up his hands. it will simply be necessary for said employee to throw up his hands and at the same time depress the treadle with one foot. thereby releasing the latch which locks the weights in their uppermost position. thus allowing the weights to suddenly fall thereby causing the downward movement of the chair to-impart a rapid rotary motion to the fan or blower within the receptacle and discharge the powdered pepper into the face of the robbers. and simultaneously elevate the protecting steel shield within the guide-ways formed in the window frame to protect the employee from flying bullets which may be discharged by the robbers or their assistants, which will be readily understood.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the treadle rodis adapted to have a swinging or rocking movement within the supports 33 which are provided with a slot Bl adapted to limit the upward and downward movement of said treadle rod.

\ each window is preferably secured a cushion 31 formed of any suitable material to relieve the concussion produced by the contact of the upward thrust of the contact of the upper protecting shield when suddenlv shlfted to its uppermost position, and within the base portion of the fixture is suitably secured in vertical aliuement with each of the weights 18 a buffer 32 adapted to absorb the jar caused by the sudden dropping of the weights into contact therewith.

It will be understood that a single treadle rod or bar may be extended along a series ill) .lets, rotary discharging means mounted" Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: ,j v

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a. fixture havinga window opening therein, a powder receptacle arranged adjacent said window opening and provided with a discharge outlet, means mounted within the receptacle for discharging its contents, a metallic shield adapted to close said window opening, and means adapted to simultaneously actuate the metallic shield and the receptacle discharging means.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle arranged adjacent said window opening containing a powder and provided with a series of outwithin the receptacle, a metallic shield adapted to close said window opening, and means for simultaneously actuating the metallic shield and said discharging means.

3.." An apparatus of the characten described, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle fixedly secured adjacent said window opening and having a series of outlets, revolving means mounted within each receptacle fordischarging its contents, a reciprocating metallic shield-adapted to close said window opening, and means for simultaneously operating the said shield and discharging means,

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture having awindow opening therein, a powder receptacle fixedly secured adjacent said window opening within the fixture and having a series of outlets, rotating means adapted to o crate a slideble valve and to discharge t e contents of the receptacle, a reciprocating hardened steel shield adapted to close said window opening when elevated, and means for elevating said shield and simultaneously actuating the rotating means.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle fixedly secured adjacent saidwindow opening and provided with a series of outlets, means mounted on a shaft within the recep tacle for discharging the contents of said receptacle, a metallic shield mounted within the fixture and adapted to close said window opening, and means mounted within the fixture for simultaneously actuating the said shield and discharging means.

I 6. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising a fixture having a win dow opening therein, a powder receptacle fixedly secured adjacent said window opening, and having a series of outlets, means mounted within each receptacle for actuating a slide valve and for discharging the contents of the receptacle, a metallic shield mounted within the fixture, means for holding said shield in its lowermost position, and means for simultaneously, elevating said shield to its uppermost position and actuating the discharging means.

7 An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle secured adjacent said window openin and having a discharge outlet, .a metallic s ield adapted to close said window opening, means within each receptacle for discharging its contents, and means for simultaneously actuating the said shield and discharging means.

8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle secured adjacent said window openingand provided with an outlet, means mounted within each receptacle for discharging its contents, a .shield' for closing the window opening, means for locking said shield in its lowermost position, means for'releasing said shield, and means for simultaneously actuating said shield into an elevated position and operating the discharging means.

9. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle arranged adjacent said window opening and provided with any outlet, means mounted within said receptacle for discharging its contents, a shield for closing the window opening, means for locking the shield in its lowermost position, a treadle with connected thereto for releasing said locking means, and means for simultaneously actuating said shield into its elevated position and operating the discharging means.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture having a window opening therein, a powder receptacle arranged adjacent said window opening and provided with outlets, means for discharging the contents mounted within said receptacle, a metallic shield for closing the window opening, means for locking the shield in its lowermost position, a swinging treadle for releasing said locking means, and means for simultaneously moving said shield to its uppermost position and actuating the discharging means. v

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixture, having a plurality of window openings therein, a powder receptacle arranged, adjacent each of said window openings and having a series of outlets, means within the receptacle for dismeans closing each Window, means for locking the cushion Contact for the shield, and means shield in its lowermost position, means conthe bottom of the fixture forming a, shock 10 nected at one end of the said shield and at its absorber for the weights.

other end to a heavy Weight for simultaneously actuating said shield, and discharging JAMES W. CLARKSQN.

means, means for releasing said locking v CHRISTOPHER A. DIMLER charging its contents, a metallic shield for means, means Within the fixture forming 

